Oftentimes, things work out all right … better than feared.

Perhaps the anticipation of difficulty, and the fear of making a mistake – or of failure – has a part to play. I suspect that the subconscious mind prepares and plans our next steps, charting a way to succeed.

Then there are conscious thoughts in a sleepless night too!

I left you last time, contemplating the keel rabbet with some trepidation, and its end at the transom in particular. I wasn’t even daring to start thinking about the stem! The angle of the bevel changes along the length of the boat, but this is especially so at the two ends, and more so at the stem!

Here’s that diagram again. The face of the bevel must be flat, so the plank lies against it nicely; and the inner angle of the rabbet should be 90 degrees to match the square edge of the plank. (We want it watertight!)

I decided to tackle the port side first. At each of the moulds, I beveled the hog, such that a plank would lie against the mould. Using a shoulder plane and a scraper with a square blade (enabling me to keep the inner angle of the rabbet at 90 degrees), I worked between the moulds, then headed to the transom.

I forgot to take a ‘before’ picture, so this is the starting point on the starboard side at the transom, with only a small amount of the hog trimmed.

Here is the finished rabbet at the transom on the port side, with the hog beveled and tapered in a smooth (fair) curve to meet the transom.

With the keel rabbet almost completed, the time finally came to tackle its transition into the stem. The keel rabbet must run smoothly from the keel up and into the previously cut stem rabbet. In doing so, the hog is blended three dimensionally. The width is reduced to fit the 1st mould; the thickness is reduced progressively to blend with the curve of the stem rabbet; and the bevel is adjusted so that the plank can twist from about 80 degrees at the 2nd mould to nearer 30 degrees at the 1st mould and into the stem – it’s a nerve-racking process, so I took it very slowly, gradually, and carefully.

This shows just how much twist there is required as the first plank comes from the midsections to the stem.
Again, I forgot to take a before picture, so this the starboard side, with minimal material removed. The Bearding line is marked on the edge of the hog, but it ‘aint as simple as just following that line. Oh no:

in order for the garboard plank to lie against the first mould, the width of the hog has to be reduced, again with a smooth curve, down to nothing at its forward end,

and the thickness is reduced gradually as the twisting bevel is created.

So, the port side rabbet is completed, subject to any minor adjustments needed when the garboard plank is being fitted. With one down, and one to go, I can turn to the starboard side now – more confident in having done one side already!

9 thoughts on “Mental Preparation for Chasing the Rabbet.”

    1. Thanks Matthew
      I just wonder if you fancy a trip to Surrey Timbers, near Guildford – might be a bit off interesting outing, though some risk to the wallet?!
      Cheers
      Stuart

      Reply

    1. Good question!!
      As a bit of a diversion, I am doing a chair making course in early July – making a Windsor chair. A present from Sylvia. Not that the chair will be going in the dinghy!
      Best wishes
      Stuart

      Reply

  4. How is the dinghy progressing? Did you follow up with Mark Shiner? I spent a month on Orkney, near Kirkwall Airport in Jan and early Feb! Working on repairs to a Yorkshire Coble; an interesting experience, working with my elder daughter. We haven’t spent that much time together in a very long time … if ever! A round robin email to most of the Wooden Boatbuilding Trade Association members had brought a personal response from ~ 1/3 running up to Christmas last year. I returned via the West Coast boatyards of Scotland … a glorious drive from Ullapool. A trip South followed taking me to an interview … with unsuccessful results. Job applications after writing a Carpentry / Joinery focussed CV, brought 2 invitations to interview and an informal chat! Off to Cornwall for interview 1 and chat … a twirl of the Snowdon Horseshoe and I was blessed with a tour of the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway’s Boston Lodge Engineering Works. Interview done, offer received, offer accepted and on the 13 th June 2022, only 9 years and 2 days after redundancy from the Royal Air Force, I return to North Wales and the world of work as a Carriage Joiner building rolling stock in a traditional manner for the heritage railways of the UK.

    Yours Aye

    GB

    Reply

    1. Please forgive the delay. Had hoped to be able to show you and others my progress on lining out, but have not got as far as I hoped. No, I did not follow things up with Mark Shiner.
      Orkney is a place I’d love to visit, and would enjoy looking at the local craft I’m sure. Yes, the west coast is fabulous, and I have fond memories of visits there. I am really pleased that you have got a job, and I know that the joinery work will be right up your street. I hope it goes well for you. If and when we are over in that part of the world, I will make sure to get in touch and try to meet up!
      Yours aye,
      Stuart

      Reply

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